Is forever for R.E.A.L?

Chapter 11- Regrets

“Larry. Larry, wake up.” My dad shouted.
“Yes. What happened, Dad?” I yawned.
“You have to go school. It’s late.” He reminded me.
“Oh! Yes. I know.” I said as memories of last night flooded in. Though I was angry for a while, I felt regret the next moment. For love, I gave up our friendship. They were going to leave me now. I crossed the limits.
“Are you there?” My dad asked.
“Yes.” I said, returning to my senses.
“Should I drop you?” he asked.
“No. I will leave.”
 
“Larry Fernandes. Why are you late? Two whole periods have ended.” Mr Batra, our physics teacher scolded. Even though I had a good impression on all the teachers, I couldn’t have on this teacher. In fact, no one had. He was a living nightmare.
“Sir, I overslept.” I whispered.
“Stand outside. And sleep as much as you want to.” He scolded.
Everyone laughed. Everyone excluding Rehan, Ashish and Esha. I felt good for a while but that feeling was gone as soon as I saw Rehan and Esha holding hands.
A period passed. Everything felt weird. I tried reaching out to them but the efforts were in vain. I was totally ignored. Their eyes were cold and I didn’t have the courage to  face them more.
I was back to my old introvert self but this time it felt different. It felt sad and alone. No one wanted to talk to me. Everything was dull. It felt like I was all alone in a crowd of people.
 
“Are you okay?” I heard a voice when I sat dejected outside the school with my back against the school wall. It was the very spot where Rehan and Ashish had their fight. If they hadn’t fought, we all wouldn’t had been friends. I wished it was Esha or Rehan asking.
“Huhh.” I said as I looked up to find Ashish. I was a bit disappointed but I felt guilty the very next moment thinking that it was only Ashish who cared to look out for me.
“I know you wanted Rehan or Esha or both to come and meet you but I hate to break this to you, I don’t think so it will happen soon.”
“I know that. But I felt you would come too.” I lied to not make him feel bad. I had enough of hurting people close to me.
“We both know it’s not true.” He said.
“Hmm.” I said as I didn’t know what to say.
“You need to give them time. They trusted you and what all you said to them was not easy to hear.”
“I know that. I regret everything.”
“Rehan is mad at you because he trusted you with that being orphan thing. And you know what they would not have been dating if you didn’t do all that.”
“What do you mean?” I said shocked at what Ashish said.
“Rehan didn’t want to kiss Esha. She kissed him. He knew you liked her. He told her they could not date as you liked her. But after everything you said, he didn’t care. He was hurt and I could see it in his eyes.”
“I wish I hadn’t said all those things. I guess R.E.A.L is not the same now until you find someone else with my initial.” I chuckled with a heavy heart.
“I think that’s not possible. You complete us, you idiot. I know things are not right anymore, but it will be later. They just need their space.” He consoled which brought a smile to my face. The very mention of us being together was so soothing. Even though it would hurt watching Rehan and Esha together, it was worth the fun we all had together. Anyways who knows maybe I could find someone else, someone better. I knew this could not happen though. Esha was my ‘forever wala love’.
“What happened with Ravi?” I asked.
“I told you that day, I guess.”
“Yeah but what after that?”
“Nothing.”
“Did he talk to you today?”
“He tried to but I didn’t.”
“Why?” I asked curious at the fact who would not want to talk to their crush.
“Wish I knew.”
I assumed that he didn’t want to talk more about that. I left for home in a while.
“Larry, Larry. Have you seen the money I kept in my wallet? I don’t know where it is. It was for your fees. They won’t allow you in school next month if we don’t pay the fees.”
In the course of that fight, I forgot about the shirt. I ran to my room and found the shirt. As I left to return the shirt, I found it torn. My face went pale. This was something I couldn’t imagine. If I couldn’t return the money, they won’t allow me back to school. Could anything be worse?
.